Global Editor, Base Oil News

Iain Pocock

Global Editor

Global Base Oils and Lubricants Markets

Base Oil News

Base Oil News focuses on the interplay between fundamentals and prices in the global base oils and lubricants markets.

Baseoilnews.com combines daily, weekly and monthly base oils and lubes fundamentals data from every region of the world to build the most comprehensive and up-to-date global picture of the state of the market.

The data and analysis provide key tools to understand current market developments and opportunities and to anticipate how the market is likely to behave in the coming months.

Base oils producers, lube blenders and consumers can then better plan accordingly.

Baseoilnews.com analyses and publishes market news and data every day as it breaks.

Commodities

Base oil is the main component in the production of lubricants including greases, motor oil and processing fluids. They constitute around 90 percent in lubricants. The American Petroleum Institute (API) has categorized base oils into five categories. Group I, II and III are refined from crude.

<ul><li>Asia’s base oils demand could get support from surge in crude oil prices and concerns about disruptions to supply in Middle East.</li><li>A sustained rise in crude oil prices would squeeze base oils margins.</li><li>Lower margins could curb downward pressure on prices.</li></ul>

Asia’s base oils demand could get support from surge in crude oil prices and concerns about disruptions to supply in Middle East.A sustained rise in crude oil prices would squeeze base oils margins.Lower margins could curb downward pressure on prices.

Asia base oils demand outlook: Week of 16 June

<ul><li>Global base oils prices mostly hold firm vs feedstock/competing fuel prices, especially in Europe and Asia.</li><li>Firm price differentials point to strong supply-demand fundamentals, incentivize refiners to supply more volumes for those markets.</li><li>Demand would need to hold firm to absorb any such pick-up in supplies.</li></ul>

Global base oils prices mostly hold firm vs feedstock/competing fuel prices, especially in Europe and Asia.Firm price differentials point to strong supply-demand fundamentals, incentivize refiners to supply more volumes for those markets.Demand would need to hold firm to absorb any such pick-up in supplies.

Global base oils margins outlook: Week of 2 June

<ul><li>US domestic Group I SN 500 price rises to premium to Group II N600 price in May 2025 for first time in more than four years.</li><li>In Middle East, CFR UAE Group I SN 500 price discount to Group II N500 shrinks to narrowest in more than seven months.</li><li>In Asia, FOB Asia Group I SN 500 price strengthens vs Group II N500 in May 2025 to firmest level in six months.</li></ul>

US domestic Group I SN 500 price rises to premium to Group II N600 price in May 2025 for first time in more than four years.In Middle East, CFR UAE Group I SN 500 price discount to Group II N500 shrinks to narrowest in more than seven months.In Asia, FOB Asia Group I SN 500 price strengthens vs Group II N500 in May 2025 to firmest level in six months.

Global base oils arb outlook: Week of 2 June

<ul><li>Asia’s heavy-grade base oils price-premium to Singapore gasoil stays unusually high.</li><li>Firm base oils premium suggests supply remains tight and demand firm, incentivizing refiners to raise output.</li><li>Gap between Group II light and heavy-grade base oils prices widens more even after restart of growing number of base oils units following scheduled maintenance work.</li></ul>

Asia’s heavy-grade base oils price-premium to Singapore gasoil stays unusually high.Firm base oils premium suggests supply remains tight and demand firm, incentivizing refiners to raise output.Gap between Group II light and heavy-grade base oils prices widens more even after restart of growing number of base oils units following scheduled maintenance work.

Asia base oils supply outlook: Week of 2 June

<ul><li>US Group II base oils prices hold in narrow range vs VGO since mid-April 2025.</li><li>Steady price differentials contrast with surge in margins in Q2 2024.</li><li>Steadier margins so far in Q2 2025 coincide with time of year when supply-demand fundamentals are likely to be tighter than usual.</li></ul>

US Group II base oils prices hold in narrow range vs VGO since mid-April 2025.Steady price differentials contrast with surge in margins in Q2 2024.Steadier margins so far in Q2 2025 coincide with time of year when supply-demand fundamentals are likely to be tighter than usual.

Americas/EMEA base oils supply outlook: Week of 2 June

Baseoilnews.com combines fundamentals and price data to explain global trends in the base oils and lubricants market. 

The insights help to explain current market dynamics and to anticipate how the market is likely to behave in the coming months.

Market participants can then better plan accordingly. 

Baseoilnews.com analyses and publishes market news and data every day as it breaks.

Iain Pocock
Global Editor
• Base Oil News

Asia base oils demand outlook: Week of 16 June

Asia’s base oils demand could get support from surge in crude oil prices and concerns about disruptions to supply in Middle East. A sustained rise...

Base Oil News

Global base oils margins outlook: Week of 2 June

Global base oils prices mostly hold firm vs feedstock/competing fuel prices, especially in Europe and Asia. Firm price differentials point to...

Base Oil News

Global base oils arb outlook: Week of 2 June

US domestic Group I SN 500 price rises to premium to Group II N600 price in May 2025 for first time in more than four years. In Middle East, CFR...

Base Oil News

Asia base oils supply outlook: Week of 2 June

Asia’s heavy-grade base oils price-premium to Singapore gasoil stays unusually high. Firm base oils premium suggests supply remains tight and...

Base Oil News

Americas/EMEA base oils supply outlook: Week of 2 June

US Group II base oils prices hold in narrow range vs VGO since mid-April 2025. Steady price differentials contrast with surge in margins in Q2...

Base Oil News